The Czech Borders Are Now Open to Foreigners From Most European Union Countries (From Countries With a Low to Moderate Risk of Coronavirus) Without Restrictions
From 15 June, citizens of selected EU countries and foreigners with the status of a long-term resident of this Member State will be able to travel to the Czech Republic without proving the purpose of the trip and without the necessity to submit a confirmation of a negative SARS-CoV-2 test. On 12 June, the Ministry of Health issued a protective measure, which divides EU countries into three groups according to the risk of COVID-19 disease: low-risk countries (green), medium risk (orange) and high risk (red).
Protective Measures
Citizens and residents of countries with a low risk of infection (green) can arrive without the obligation to submit a negative COVID-19 test. Citizens and residents of other EU countries (orange and red) will continue to be subject to the entry conditions defined by the above-mentioned protective measure (e.g. it continues to be the case that citizens of these countries cannot travel to the Czech Republic for tourism purposes). The conditions defined by the protective measure apply similarly to citizens of the Czech Republic who reside in another EU Member State. If their country of residence falls into the orange or red category, Czech citizens residing in this country must submit a test or quarantine after entering the Czech Republic unless they meet one of the exceptions defined by the measure.
Citizens of the Czech Republic and foreigners with a temporary stay of more than 90 days or permanent residence in the Czech Republic may return to the Czech Republic from EU countries with low and medium risk of infection (green and orange) without the obligation to submit a test certificate or quarantine. The obligation to test or quarantine will be maintained only after returning from countries with high disease risk (red).
Please note that the map does not consider the conditions for travelling to EU countries. For the conditions of entry into other countries, it is necessary to find out the current information, preferably at the embassy of the Czech Republic in the respective country (the signpost is here). The categorization of countries according to the risk of disease will be regularly updated.
Travelling to EU Countries Based on the “Semaphore” Colours
Lifting restrictions on arriving from abroad does not mean that Czechs will be able to travel abroad indefinitely. The government warns that many European states will continue to apply their own restrictions on entry into their territory.
Green – Low-Risk Countries
Czech citizens and foreigners with a temporary stay of more than 90 days or permanent residence in the Czech Republic do not have to submit a negative coronavirus test or enter quarantine when returning from these countries.
Czech citizens can travel to countries such as Estonia, France, Croatia, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, Hungary, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Greece, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and, for the most part, Poland, without giving a reason.
Bulgaria, Iceland and Cyprus will also be open to the Czechs, but they have their limitations regarding the submitted negative test for COVID-19 or mandatory quarantine.
You cannot travel to Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway, Romania and Spain without giving a reason. Some of these states require mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival.
Orange – Medium Risk Countries
Czech citizens and foreigners with a temporary stay of more than 90 days or permanent residence do not have to submit a negative test for quarantine when returning from these countries. However, the obligation of test or quarantine applies to foreigners coming from these countries and Czech citizens with permanent or long-term residence in these countries. Foreigners from these countries are not allowed to enter for tourism purposes, only based on exceptions set by the Ministry of Health.
Rules for entry of foreigners into the following countries:
Belgium – You can travel to the country without giving a reason.
United Kingdom – You cannot travel to the country without giving a reason. From 8 June, a 14-day quarantine applies to all travellers from abroad (except Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man), even if they have a negative test.
Red – High-Risk Countries
When returning from these countries and entering the Czech Republic, except for previously valid exceptions, it is still necessary to submit a negative test or enter a fourteen-day quarantine. This also applies to passengers from outside the EU and the Schengen area. Foreigners are not allowed to enter the Czech Republic for the purpose of tourism, only on the basis of exceptions set by the Ministry of Health. Otherwise, you can travel to Polish Silesia, Portugal and Sweden without giving a reason.
The EU External Borders Remain Closed
The European Union’s external borders will remain closed for non-EU nationals. However, Member States have agreed that their gradual opening to countries with a good epidemiological situation could start in July. It is not yet clear when it will be possible to travel to Russia or the United States again.
People coming from outside of the European Union and the Schengen area must provide a negative COVID-19 test.
